Preservation of cultural heritage requires more state funds (video)

Armenia is one of the world's leading countries with its cultural heritage but the state does not allocate enough funds for its preservation, a specialist has said.

Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Hakob Simonyan, the director of the scientific-research institute of cultural-historical heritage at Armenia's Ministry of Culture, said that neighboring Georgia spends nine times as much for that purpose.

"If we take into account the fact that in the near future the number of officially registered monuments will be 26,000, it should be noted that in fact there is one monument for each square kilometer in Armenia," said Simonyan.

In countries like Moldova or Belarus, which exceed Armenia with their territory, there are three-four times less monuments compared to Armenia, Simonyan added.

"It should be noted, that despite [the existence] of huge cultural heritage, the funds provided by the state are incomparably little for its preservation - one million dollars per annum," said he.

"While in neighboring Georgia the state allocates around $9 million for the same purpose," said Simonyan.